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Council leaders say it is "extremely disappointing" the government will not include their authorities in a devolution programme. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP), Dorset, Wiltshire, and Somerset Councils previously voted to move forward with a new Heart of Wessex combined authority. The councils told government they wanted to be considered together as a Wessex group, which would be presided over by a mayor. Now, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has told parliament the authorities will not feature in the government's Devolution Priority Programme.